A blog for the New Zealand creative advertising industry, now at www.campaignbrief.com/nz. Email news to: michael@campaignbrief.com

Monday, October 15, 2007

SHARON HENDERSON RESIGNS FROM DDB

DDB’s Managing Director, Sharon Henderson today announced her resignation from the agency. She leaves DDB on November 9.In her announcement to staff, Sharon commented: "Most of you will know I am not one to do things by halves. And the last 19 months have been action-packed, enormously stimulating and incredibly rewarding – for me, and ultimately DDB." After 19 months at DDB, Sharon says she wants a break with her young family but admits she’s unlikely to sit still for long."Sharon joined DDB in March 2006 and has made a major contribution to our business," Marty O’Halloran, DDB Australasia’s Chairman said. "She has had a real impact on the company during her tenure, including a number of new business wins." DDB New Zealand Group’s CEO Sandy Moore said Sharon’s energy and passion will be missed by everyone at the agency.

Why in fucks name is the CD of every big agency here a bloody Brit? A know a dozen Kiwi's way more talented that these expats who come and attach to their positions like leeches. I thought talented people moved around to bigger and better things after a couple of years? I guess these guys are not, which is why they'll stick around until they grow old and die without a chance in fuck for the guys really creating the great ads below them. And when there's finally an opening here, the Brits just move around! Why don't we get someone from elsewhere for a change? Ah, I feel much better now.

7.59Right on the money old son. They come here because they want to be a big fish in a small pond. Good for their ego/wallet...one or the other. Plus they have a bad attitude...jI could name them but the people who work with them know who I mean.

The reason the poms CD's come here is because back in the eighties, and through to the mid nineties, the UK did the best ads in the world.

Now they don't.

They're an also-ran - apart from D&AD, where, as we all know, it's a joke.

To understand why they're here, look at the people who do the hiring - all Regional CD's who love that style of English work from that period I described before - and they're usually English.

And you can't blame them. If you were a kiwi in London, and a Regional CD, would you hire a kiwi or a pom?

Easy, you'd hire a kiwi. Why, because he's a mate, probably does better work, works with other employees well (instead of some silly English throwback to the class system), and finally, because they remind you of home.